Work with Erika Ayers Badan

In this episode of WORK, Erika breaks down what it means to take over a business you didn’t start, and the difference between ownership, leadership, and cleanup. She gets into why the chief of staff role is one of the weirdest jobs, how companies get stuck in admin spirals, and why most meetings aren’t actually work. The episode also looks ahead at the jobs of the future, and what happ...

In this episode of WORK, Erika opens with a conversation on burnout, humor, and how survival sometimes looks like making fun of your own life. She talks about the pressure to build businesses like SKIMS, and why most companies don’t work that way. Caitlin Murray joins to talk about parenting, grief, and growing Big Time Adulting into a platform built on honesty and humor. Katie Lee shares he...

In this episode of WORK, Erika talks with Chef Tiara from The Pastry Box about building something from scratch—literally. They get into how burnout led to biscuits, what it means to create a business that actually feeds you, and why joy should be part of the plan. The episode also features a conversation with Sarah Tans on maternity, identity, and how to make work work after becoming a paren...

In this episode of WORK, Erika talks about leadership, trust, and why the best teams don’t need babysitting. She unpacks what makes someone worth following, how Gen Alpha misunderstands the internet, and why being busy doesn’t mean being valuable. Plus: a conversation with Tejas Hullur on content, burnout, and storytelling—and a story from travel writer Anne Abel about changing y...

In this episode of WORK, Erika sits down with Dustin Baker and Maya French, the co-founders of Happy Pop, to talk about what it really takes to build something from nothing—twice. They get into the chaos of launching a beverage brand, learning everything on the fly, and why community and confidence matter more than any investor pitch. It’s a story about resilience, reinvention, and mak...

In this episode of WORK, Erika talks about what it really means to show up prepared—at work, in your routines, and in your life. She breaks down generational differences in effort, the myth of phoning it in, and why some people make everything look easy. Plus, a conversation with sports broadcaster Megan Olivi about performance, pressure, and doing the work so thoroughly they’re glad y...

In this episode of WORK, Erika breaks down what actually makes a good performance review, why feedback often goes wrong, and how collaboration turns into chaos when no one owns anything. She gets into the future of work, the difference between real mentorship and fake feedback, and why writing “as per my last email” might be the worst strategy of all. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

In this episode of WORK, Erika sits down with Trudy and Chloe—mother and daughter, creatives, and co-authors of The Artful Way to Plant-Based Cooking . They talk about starting over at 50, building a career from scratch, and working together without losing your mind. The conversation covers career reinvention, ceramics, content, modeling, menopause, and what it means to build a life that act...

In this episode of WORK, Erika talks with Max Shaw, founder of Windmill, about what happens when you actually try to fix work with software. They get into performance reviews, why no one knows what anyone does anymore, and how AI can help  the way we collaborate. It’s a conversation about systems, strategy, and the mess between productivity and performance. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

In this episode of WORK, Erika explores what it means to actually do your job—without overthinking, over-talking, or waiting for permission. She unpacks the myth of linear careers, the shift away from traditional full-time roles, and the impact of AI on creative work. It’s a conversation about clarity, momentum, and getting out of your own way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

In this episode of WORK , Erika unpacks what it really means to hire big personalities, lead through change, and build systems that actually work—especially for moms. She shares the story behind launching Rework , reflects on Gen Z’s relationship with ambition, and makes the case for hiring the divas, not avoiding them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Get full acce...

In this episode of WORK , Erika sits down with Julia and Kiernan, two longtime team members leaving the food52, for honest and thoughtful exit interviews. They talk about growth, burnout, resilience, and what it takes to stay optimistic during change. Erika also reflects on grief, legacy, and why leaving things better than you found them still matters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

In this episode of WORK, Erika breaks down the massive shift happening at Food52 and Schoolhouse. She talks hard choices, layoffs, and the reality of running a business when the numbers don’t add up. She gets into what went wrong, what had to change, and what’s next. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Get full access to Mule Media at erikaayersbadan.substack.com/subsc...

In this episode of WORK Erika dives into the realities of workplace culture, productivity, and the challenges of modern leadership. She explores how uncertainty, fear, and exhaustion are shaping the way people show up at work—and why relationships matter more than ever. Plus, a discussion on daylight savings (should we even have it?), the right way to set boundaries when dealing with persona...

In this episode of  Work  Erika dives into the challenges of balancing workload, managing priorities, and navigating career growth. The conversation explores how to take ownership of work, build strong relationships, and rethink productivity. Plus, she tackles the evolving expectations around remote work, the impact of leadership styles, and the importance of follow-through in business. With insig...

In this episode of  Work , Erika talks about the controversial world of office snacks, and the generational differences in work-life balance. We also dive into strategies for staying positive in the face of daily chaos, the importance of setting boundaries, and the ongoing debate about remote work versus office culture. Plus, we discuss the challenges of managing bandwidth and staying productive w...

In this episode of  Work , Erika shares a key lesson on responding vs. reacting in the workplace, gives a behind-the-scenes look at the Nobody Cares live event, and dives into the challenges of discussing work on social media. Guests include Ben Kraim on cannabis marketing and George Wells is back breaking down SGA expenses.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Get full access to...

In this episode, we dive into the real challenges of modern work - figuring out what actually matters. From sifting through endless meetings to understanding the power of AI, we’re breaking down how to work smarter, not harder. We explore why prioritization is key, how AI is shaping the future of productivity, and whether remote work policies are sustainable. Special guest Lindsay Metzler jo...

In the debut episode of Work , Erika breaks down the realities of work, leadership, and career growth. She shares why she started the podcast, the importance of learning on the job, and why resilience matters in today’s workplace. From the dangers of revenge quitting to hiring insights and generational work-life balance debates, Erika keeps it real with unfiltered advice and guest perspectiv...

Work with Erika is a new podcast hosted by Erika Badan, CEO of Food52, former CEO of Barstool Sports and author of Nobody Cares About Your Career. Each week, Erika dives into the challenges and realities of modern work - from office dynamics to work-life balance, and everything in between. Join her for candid conversations on how to make work, work for you. Tune in starting January 27th, wherever...

On today's episode we're joined by Charity Auctioneer and author Lydia Fenet. Lydia has been named one of New York’s most influential women by Gotham magazine and she has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Vogue, Vanity Fair, and more. She is the leading charity auctioneer in the world and has single handedly has raised over a billion dollars for over 800 organiz...

On today's episode Erika is joined but the CEO and found of Sh*t That I Knit, Christina Fagan Pardy. Christina created the brand simply because she loved knitting and felt passionate about it. She quit her full-time sales job and now runs multi-million dollar company that has been featured on The Today Show and even has partnerships with NFL, NHL, and Team USA Olympics. Christina and Erika discuss...

On today's episode Erika gives us an inside look at what's going on at Barstool including everything from new hires and change to reviewing the NYPD vs. FDNY hockey game. Plus we're joined by special guest, found and CEO of 'Sh*t I Knit', Christina Pardy Fagan to help us answer your career Q&A's. Erika and Christina get into making connectiona nd reaching out to people, future aspirations and maki...

On today's episode Erika is joined by reality star and author, Captain Sandy Yawn. Sandy is currently currently the captain on Bravo TV’s Below Deck Mediterranean and her debut book 'Be The Calm or Be The Storm: Leadership Lessons from a Women at the Helm' shares he leadership skills and critical thinking she displays as a captain, to empower anyone to navigate their way to a successful life. Sand...

On today's episode Erika is joined by Tyler Mornin and Enrique to discuss Feits vs. the third floor and weighing if Barstool is becoming too corporate. Plus, Tyler answer your career Q&A's including working with family, imposter syndrome and switch jobs too early in your career. Enjoy! You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free o...